[env-trinity] Fwd: logs in river

[Thomas Shaw]

Nice Emelia!!,

During my years working on New River, I saw a freight train of large woody 
debris (LWD) blasting down the thalweg, during a particular peak flow event 
(spring 1992?). One year, the flows and accompanying LWD left only dangling 
ropes and cables where a 8' rotary screw trap was once stationed.  Huge trees 
were blasting through every few minutes.  Those trap's pontoons almost rode out 
the New River gorge, but settled up-rite, on top of some house sized boulders.  
What a ride that must of been.  The screw portion of the trap was totally 
"screwed."  We had the parts flown out when the flows subsided. 

I remember LWD naturally being stored in the New River bank full and floodplain, 
all the way up the drainage, and mobilized during these kind of peak flow 
events. Many had chainsawed ends.  I assume they must settle out somewhere in 
the plains or ocean below.  Unlike below the dam, the LWD, sediment, etc. are 
naturally replaced from the many plains above.  I would expect that the SF, 
New, NF, and other large tribs, along with the mainstem Trinity above, were 
pumping out the large amounts LWD that you all saw. 

I seriously doubt any LWD was being transported below Lewiston.  Flows 
remained flat-lined at 300 cfs.  So, no LWD recruitment from above or below 
there, but at least them fish eggs are somewhat safe.

BTW, I wish I could watch trees going down the river from my spot, as long as 
the river stayed below. :)

Tom Shaw 

Eureka, CA


________________________________
From: Emilia Berol <ema.berol at yahoo.com>
To: Trinity List <env-trinity at mailman.dcn.org>
Sent: Sun, December 2, 2012 10:33:40 PM
Subject: [env-trinity] Fwd: logs in river


Watching the Trinity from our spot between Camp Kimtu and the mouth of Willow 
Creek, I am amazed not only by the volume and velocity of the river today, but 
by the amount of logs and debris coming down the river ...  I haven't seen this 
many logs in the river since the 70's.... maybe not even then.  It has been a 
constant stream of all sizes of debris, all day. They look like schools of 
sharks and sea serpents floating down the currents. Neighbors sitting out on 
benches today say it's been like watching a parade. 

Since there isn't much logging going on in the basin below the dam these days, 
as far as I know, 
I can't help but wonder where its all coming from?  Could some of this be from 
blowouts from TRRP projects? a fair amount of the larger logs have straight cuts 
on at least one side, sometimes both sides. 
And I am wondering if some of it is coming from the South Fork? 

Emelia Berol
TAMWG member
120 Patterson Dr.
Willow Creek, Ca.
95573
707-407-6814

Sent from my iPad

Begin forwarded message:


From: Emelia Berol <ema.berol at yahoo.com>
>Date: December 2, 2012, 5:22:38 PM PST
>To: ema.berol at yahoo.com
>Subject: logs in river
>
>

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>Sent from my iPhone
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